Through Never
Chapter One:
From the Sea We Come; To the Sea We Shall Return
There is an old Selkic lore that Selkies came from the sea and one day we must return. So many of my tribe believe everyone is waiting to be rid of us, I can't say I disagree, they treat me as if I am lesser anyhow. A knock was heard on my door. "Come in," I said.
It was my mother Rah Sie who had tears brimming in her eyes. "Miriali, it's going to be your fourth year caravaning, I worry about you," She said. "I miss you too, but I have to do this," I sighed. "I sometimes wish we sent your brother Gan Kol, you could have a life by now, someone to care about, love, have a family," She trailed. Tears began welling up in my eyes as well, she felt terrible for striping me of creating a family of my own.
"It's okay Mother, I don't think I would have a chance anyway," I said trying to lighten the mood. "You're so beautiful though," Mother sighed. "Not as beautiful as Sarah Kana," I replied. Sarah Kana was deemed the most attractive woman in our island village of Leuda. She was very quiet, and shy, although this was mostly around elders. Behind closed doors which those who she knew well, Sarah could be boisterous. Mother tucked a silver strand of her behind my ear. "Sarah Kana is very attractive, but, she doesn't have the morality of my darling Miri," She laughed softly. Sarah, behind closed doors wasn't the most moral girl as well. Gan Kol was possibly the only male who wasn't worshiping the ground she walked on. I don't think she does it because she wants too, more so she doesn't know any better. Since she was a child everyone complimented on her beauty and eventually, she became arrogant about it.
"So, I barely get to see you anymore! Any boys you like?" She asked me. "No, not really," I replied. "Miri, you're already eighteen, nineteen next month, you should be married by now," She breathed exasperatedly. "I just don't find anyone to my liking yet," I answered. "You'll find someone, hopefully before we all must return to the sea!" She giggled and tousled my hair. I couldn't help but laughing either. "So you leave tomorrow, am I correct?" She said more seriously. I nodded. I would have to cross the sea, to collect this year's first drop for I had drained last year's worth of myrrh from the Lynari Desert. "I'll leave you to pack. Be careful out there dear," She said. We were both so close to crying but we new that I had the duty of bringing the village the security of the myrrh.
I had finished packing and pulled out the elastic that usually held my hair in a loose pony tail. But since it was my last day of real relaxation, I decided to wear it down. Trudging up the steep and ever twisting pathways to the cliff over-looking the sea. I made it a ritual that I come here the day before I set out and make a wish. Sometimes I made two wishes. Although, these wishes rarely came true, but four years ago, I was a fool, making wishes of stealing one million gil or besting the Lilty caravan of Marr's Pass in monster slaying contests. But this year, I'll make a wish that will make my mother happy.
I wish for,
somebody
to care about me......